6/15/25
Do pesky mosquitoes keep you from enjoying your own backyard during the summer?
Why not just hire one of the many fogging services? Because, fogging works by taking down adult mosquitoes that happen to be in the area at the time, but does not stop breeding. Worse, fogging kills the helpful insects needed for a biodiverse and healthy local environment. We rely on insects who pollinate plants and trees and flowers and vegetables, they include butterflies, bees, and fireflies; fogging also harms frogs, toads and nesting birds who contribute to a balanced healthy environment.
Our recent rainy spells have given these pesky insects a jump-start on mosquito-rich yards, but don’t start scratching yet! Mosquito buckets reduce the mosquito population by offering just the right place for mosquitoes to breed and then use a natural bacterium that kills the larvae before they fly and bite. This method does not harm other pollinators, pets or people and includes an escape route for curious small creatures who may wander into the bucket.
To make a “mosquito bucket of doom”, start with a 5-gallon bucket, first, use markers or paint to decorate your creation, announcing your goal of targeting mosquitoes while protecting helpful wildlife. Add water and toss in a handful of dead leaves or grass clippings (creating a welcoming environment for the skeeters), add a piece of mosquito dunk containing bacillus thuringiensis israelensis (Bti) (found at hardware and garden shops), and a sturdy stick (as an escape route!). Finally, choose a damp, quiet corner or edge of your property and place your bucket.
For step-by-step instructions, and to join the challenge, search Mosquito Bucket Challenge and select the Homegrownnationalpark.org site. Making and placing the bucket can be a fun family project to kick off the summer season. Getting everyone involved and talking with neighbors about promoting pollinators while defeating mosquitoes is a great way to remind us of our responsibility to our local habitat.
To participate in the challenge, post a photo of your bucket using #mosquitobucketchallenge and tag #HomegrownNationalPark – you’ll be supporting bees, butterflies, fireflies, frogs, toads and birds and spreading the word about Homegrown National Parks!
“The good functioning of ecosystems also requires fungi, algae, worms, insects, reptiles and an innumerable variety of microorganisms.” (LS’ 34)
Do pesky mosquitoes keep you from enjoying your own backyard during the summer?
Why not just hire one of the many fogging services? Because, fogging works by taking down adult mosquitoes that happen to be in the area at the time, but does not stop breeding. Worse, fogging kills the helpful insects needed for a biodiverse and healthy local environment. We rely on insects who pollinate plants and trees and flowers and vegetables, they include butterflies, bees, and fireflies; fogging also harms frogs, toads and nesting birds who contribute to a balanced healthy environment.
Our recent rainy spells have given these pesky insects a jump-start on mosquito-rich yards, but don’t start scratching yet! Mosquito buckets reduce the mosquito population by offering just the right place for mosquitoes to breed and then use a natural bacterium that kills the larvae before they fly and bite. This method does not harm other pollinators, pets or people and includes an escape route for curious small creatures who may wander into the bucket.
To make a “mosquito bucket of doom”, start with a 5-gallon bucket, first, use markers or paint to decorate your creation, announcing your goal of targeting mosquitoes while protecting helpful wildlife. Add water and toss in a handful of dead leaves or grass clippings (creating a welcoming environment for the skeeters), add a piece of mosquito dunk containing bacillus thuringiensis israelensis (Bti) (found at hardware and garden shops), and a sturdy stick (as an escape route!). Finally, choose a damp, quiet corner or edge of your property and place your bucket.
For step-by-step instructions, and to join the challenge, search Mosquito Bucket Challenge and select the Homegrownnationalpark.org site. Making and placing the bucket can be a fun family project to kick off the summer season. Getting everyone involved and talking with neighbors about promoting pollinators while defeating mosquitoes is a great way to remind us of our responsibility to our local habitat.
To participate in the challenge, post a photo of your bucket using #mosquitobucketchallenge and tag #HomegrownNationalPark – you’ll be supporting bees, butterflies, fireflies, frogs, toads and birds and spreading the word about Homegrown National Parks!
“The good functioning of ecosystems also requires fungi, algae, worms, insects, reptiles and an innumerable variety of microorganisms.” (LS’ 34)